Parkwalk is pleased to announce its investment in Qkine, a biotechnology company spun out of the University of Cambridge.
Parkwalk invests in a £1.5 million funding round for Cambridge-based biotechnology company Qkine alongside CPI Enterprises, EverQuest Capital Partners and EMV Capital, underscoring their shared commitment to backing high-potential UK life sciences businesses developing innovative technologies with global commercial impact.
The funding will support the company’s continued growth as it expands production of high-purity, animal-origin-free growth factors, cytokines and complex proteins that are helping improve the reproducibility, scalability and performance of stem cell research and advanced cell therapies.
The global stem cell sector is growing rapidly, driven by increasing investment in regenerative medicine, cell and gene therapies, and advanced disease research. However, researchers continue to face significant challenges, including inconsistent cell culture performance, batch-to-batch variability, and the need for animal-origin-free materials to support the transition to clinical manufacturing.
Qkine addresses these challenges through proprietary recombinant protein production and advanced protein engineering, producing highly consistent growth factors and cytokines that enable researchers and manufacturers to achieve more reliable and reproducible results. The company now offers a portfolio of more than 100 products supporting applications across stem cell research, organoids, cell therapy, cultivated meat and organ-on-chip technologies.
The funding will strengthen Qkine’s executive leadership team, expand its presence in the US market, accelerate research and development, scale GMP and cell therapy-grade manufacturing capabilities, and enhance its digital platforms. Together, these investments will broaden the company’s global reach, accelerate innovation and position Qkine to meet growing demand from both research and therapeutic cell manufacturing markets.
Rob Scoffin, CEO of Qkine, said:
“The investment round is a strong endorsement of the progress we’ve made and our vision for the future. As demand continues to grow for reproducible, animal-origin-free reagents that support next-generation cell therapies and stem cell research, this capital will help us accelerate our growth, expand our product portfolio and better serve our customers who are developing the medicines of tomorrow.”
Since its launch, Qkine has established itself as a trusted supplier of premium research reagents, manufacturing all of its proteins in Cambridge, UK, with a strong focus on consistency, quality and reproducibility. Its products are used by customers across academia, biotechnology and pharma, as well as by developers working in emerging fields such as advanced in vitro models, cultivated meat and other cellular agriculture products.
To find out more abut Qkine, visit their website or the Parkwalk portfolio page.